The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's legislature, on Thursday adopted the sixth Amendment to Criminal Law and the Amendment to Compulsory Education Law.

The legislature also ratified the convention on the proposed Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization, the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matters, Treaty on Transfer of the Sentenced Persons between China and Spain, the Treaty on Criminal Matters between China and Mexico, a report on the 2005 final accounts and a report on the 2005 central budget.

The legislature appointed Shi Xiushi and Cao Bochun as deputy head of the NPC Financial and Economic Committee and deputy head of the NPC Environmental and Resources Protection Committee.

China's top legislator Wu Bangguo made an important speech on Thursday, saying that the amended Compulsory Education Law will eventually ensure free compulsory education for children of schooling age.

The six-day-long 22nd session of the 10th NPC Standing Committee concluded on June 29.